SOMETHING TO SHARE...


Saturday, October 16, 2010

Be Kind One To Another

WARNING: Here comes another example from my adorable grandson!  A few weeks ago, I told you the story of Alicia and Landon observing the beautiful, pink sky and discussing the reasons for the brilliant color to which Landon exclaimed that he thought God wanted to bless someone and he also thought He wanted to bless him. He went on to relate his reasoning  to his Mom and Sister. The day before, on the playground, he was winning the race, (apparently a rare event for him to be in the lead), and when he saw Timothy fall, he went back to help him up and then said later to his mommy and sister, "I think that made Jesus happy!"

I am with him on this because I think it brings a smile to our Savior and Lord's face too when we practice this art of kindness. I believe it is getting rarer and rarer in the world, but I write to believers who can make a great impact just by that fact- that the world sees little of it today. They are almost suspicious of us when we shine with kindness.  As I studied Paul's description of love in 1 Cor. 13, I noted that he said "love is kind." That list from verses 4-7 informs us that love is active and not just a "feeling". That is how the world describes it and sadly, we believers adopt their definition often when we sit in the pastor's office and say things like "I just don't love her or him anymore." Now, being that I am speaking about kindness today, I want to be careful and gentle but, for believers, you need to start loving him or her again. It is hard to resist a kind, caring, and gentle pursuer. It's hard to say "no" to one who you see is more interested in your concerns than they are their own. And, yes, I know there are exceptions but my point is that we define love correctly- it isn't that starry-eyed, tingly up the spine feeling but it is a commitment and Paul says that it is kind.

In Galatians 5, in the list of the fruit of the Spirit, the same Greek word is used and translated gentleness. In Ephesians 4, as Paul again stresses "putting off" the old man and his deeds, those things which grieve the Holy Spirit, he reminds us, as new men and women, to put on some kindness. It looks good on us as His children. John MacArthur defines kindness in this way- "A tender concern for others, reflected in a desire to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats all believers.." Ps. 117:1-2 "O Praise, the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD."  Pity us were it not for His kindness!!  I love the Scripture in Titus 3, as Paul describes us in vs 3 before God saved us- not a pretty picture, was it?  "BUT after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"  Ask ourselves again, where would we be without His kindness and mercy toward us? Contemplating that thought more often would cause us to be kind to others more.

Oh, I love His gentleness, don't you? I can hardly read Matt 11:28-30 without crying over the fact that He is kind to the weary. In Matt. 19:13-14, He is kind to the weak- the little children whom the disciples were going to send away lest they bother the Master. The weary and the weak are no bother to Him. He, rather, beckons those groups to come and be blessed. Let us ask ourselves- how do we treat those two groups? Are they a deterrent to our agenda or are we reaching out to them in kindness, with gentleness? Our Lord did and does!  It is so refreshing to be around a genuinely kind individual today. We live in such a scurrying, sarcastic, and self-serving world that they are jewels indeed- those who when they walk away have spoken a gracious word or done a kind deed that now the result is that  you feel you are rejuvenated. My beloved mother, gone now for 25 years on the 18th day of this month, comes to mind when I think of  kindness. Her longtime doctor, with tears in his eyes, remarked to us as he attended to her in ICU on her last day on earth that she motioned for him to take the oxygen mask away (she, being too weak to do so) and then she thanked him for being a good doctor to her and her family and told him how much she appreciated him. She was still making people feel good on her last day and "I think that made Jesus happy."

The good news is that we all can do this because the Holy Spirit lives in us to produce that fruit. Oh, for the relinquishment of that old attitude that "it's just the way I am." No, it's just the way you were before King Jesus came to reside on the throne of your heart. Tomorrow, as we go to church, let's purpose to be compassionate instead of critical, gentle in the place of grilling either our pastors or fellow parishioners, merciful instead of malicious. And, then of course, pray that we put it on and walk in it everyday, not just Sundays.  It would be good to practice it on the highways on Mondays and in our homes daily. Would those living under our roofs have a heart attack if they saw some kindness? Do they see that happy face just as we exit the car to go into the church doors?A good motivation is to  remember the kindness and mercy of our Lord toward us - we deserved neither. Let's go with the intention that if we see a fellow runner fall that we will put our agenda on hold and go back and help them up. I'm sure that makes the Master smile.  

I close with what I thought was a wonderful quotation from Phillip Keller concerning kindness: "Perhaps no other fruit of the Spirit has such far-reaching effects. It comes without display or ostentation, performing its sublime service almost in secret to slip away unseen. Yet its benefits remain to do their divine work in a weary old world."   Amen, we sure look good in that kindness, fellow pilgrim!

Looking up, Deborah

God has used His Word and my lesson here to convict and compel me toward kindness - just wanted you to know! I feel like Paul who said that he had not "arrived" but was pressing on.  Thank You, Lord. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13

1 comment:

  1. I wonder, if 25 years after I'm gone, will I have left enought "kindness" in the world that someone will write about me. Thank you Deb for these instructions. My God find us being faithful to show HIS love to the weary and the weak. Love you...Dedene

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